NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Manurewa community rallies for safer crossings at high crash site

By Mary Afemata
RNZ·
9 Sep, 2024 12:28 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Treaty Principles Bill faces opposition from church leaders, SkyCity casino shuts its doors for the week and Police launch 11 homicide investigations.


Manurewa community leaders are urging Auckland Transport to rethink its approach to the safety upgrade of a busy roundabout that has been the site of 50 crashes in five years.

Auckland Transport is planning to upgrade the Weymouth roundabout with painted red speed reduction signs and high friction surfaces this month.

In 2021, raised crossings were proposed for the roundabout following community consultation. However, a recent policy change means these safety measures have been scrapped.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Community leaders want raised crossings to be reconsidered, but AT says the new design is safe and will slow traffic.

There have been 50 crashes at the roundabout in the past five years. Photo / LDR, Mary Afemata
There have been 50 crashes at the roundabout in the past five years. Photo / LDR, Mary Afemata

The roundabout has four roads - Weymouth, Roscommon, Mahia, and Palmers - feeding into it and is busy with families walking to school and the local shopping centre.

Auckland councillor for Manurewa, Angela Dalton, is among those concerned after the raised tables were removed from the design.

Letters of notification were sent to residents a few weeks ago.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“A mother responded that she believes ‘our children are being used as skittles’,” she said.

About 85% of vehicles are travelling 50-60km/h as they approach the roundabout, according to TomTom analysis.

Inside the roundabout, about 85% of vehicles travel at speeds of between 35-45km/h, depending on the time and date of the month, Dalton said.

Councillor Angela Dalton is advocating for the raised crossings and says "I urge Auckland Transport to implement the original design which incorporated raised crossings, the cost and ideology is irrelevant when compared to the safety of our tamariki, rangatahi, kaumatua and kuia." Photo / Auckland Council
Councillor Angela Dalton is advocating for the raised crossings and says "I urge Auckland Transport to implement the original design which incorporated raised crossings, the cost and ideology is irrelevant when compared to the safety of our tamariki, rangatahi, kaumatua and kuia." Photo / Auckland Council

Within the past five years, there have been 50 crashes. One was fatal, and 11 resulted in injury, she said.

“My understanding is that due to a change in policy direction from central government, these raised tables have now been removed from the original design consulted with the community in 2021.”

AT has changed the design to standard-painted pedestrian crossings.

Manurewa and Clendon town centre manager Neil Punja said he was also troubled by the new design.

“The safety of our community, particularly our children, elderly, and those accessing schools and community facilities, should be paramount in any infrastructure project,” Punja said.

“The data shows vehicle speeds in the area are too high for safe pedestrian crossings, even with high-friction surfaces and markings.”

Manurewa and Clendon town centre manager Neil Punja. Photo: Supplied / Manurewa Business Association
Manurewa and Clendon town centre manager Neil Punja. Photo: Supplied / Manurewa Business Association

The original design was developed following community consultation and intended to address safety concerns, he added.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“We must listen to the voices of our community and implement solutions that prioritise the wellbeing of all users.”

The affected area includes four schools, a large shopping centre, an Auckland Council community centre, and a library.

The principals and board chairs of Weymouth Primary, Waimahia Intermediate, Te Mataraunga, and Finlayson Schools support the raised crossings.

Manurewa MP Arena Williams and police area commander Adam Pyne are also backing Dalton and Punja.

But Matt Winiata, chairman of the Manurewa Local Board, said not all the feedback supported traffic-slowing measures.

“I haven’t heard the term ‘skittles’ for some years now but we have also had many emails opposed to the raised crossings and asking for them not to be installed from residents living around the immediate area.”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Auckland Transport's design for the Clendon roundabout. After consulting with Finlayson Park School, it was decided that no zebra pedestrian crossing will be installed near 255 Weymouth Road. Photo / Auckland Transport
Auckland Transport's design for the Clendon roundabout. After consulting with Finlayson Park School, it was decided that no zebra pedestrian crossing will be installed near 255 Weymouth Road. Photo / Auckland Transport

During discussions with AT, the engineers said the raised crossings would be removed due to the volume of heavy freight as it was a dedicated route for oversized loads, he said.

“Palmers Road has three raised crossings between the roundabout and Finlayson Drive, where Te Matauranga is located and a new raised crossing was recently installed at Whakatakapokai, which would assist with intermediate students getting across Weymouth Road.”

AT has deferred the project for two weeks to discuss safety measures with the schools, business association, and Dalton.

Early this month, AT had a meeting with Finlayson Park School representatives about the project and other traffic issues.

In an email to the Manurewa Local Board, ward councillors, the Business Association and Finlayson Park School, Peter Naber, the elected member relationship partner from AT said: “Our design team has taken on board the concerns from the school and have made a decision that no zebra pedestrian crossing will be installed near 255 Weymouth Road”.

“With the new change, pedestrians willing to cross Weymouth Road East could either [use] the existing signalised pedestrian crossing near John Walker Drive, which is approximately 110m east, or use the existing underpass at the roundabout to go to the western side of the roundabout.”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The location would be monitored post-construction and AT would proactively enhance the design as required if any safety measures or facilities were needed.

AT road network optimisation manager Chris Martin said safety improvements were incorporated into all their projects and the new design would reduce speeds at the roundabout.

“Making sure everyone gets home safely is always a top priority. We’ve always had a strong focus on safety for our most vulnerable road users.

“The policy regarding using raised tables on arterial roads has been updated and AT believes the new design for the Clendon roundabout is safe.”

AT has applied “like for like” safety intervention measures in the design, including red speed reduction signage that says “slow” on the road, high friction surfaces on the approaches to the roundabout, and standard pedestrian crossing warning signs, he said.

But Dalton said traffic speed would still be too high when approaching a pedestrian crossing.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

In an email sent to the Manurewa Local Board and ward councillors, the new tentative start date is September 16. The construction is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

AT will monitor speeds after construction completion to ensure they have been reduced.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Kea Kids News: It’s a town filled with wild horses!

New Zealand|crime

'I will forever hate you': Victims' torment after 'friend' sexually abused them as boys

15 Jun 08:00 AM
Crime

Coconuts and meth: The story behind NZ's largest pseudoephedrine prosecution

15 Jun 06:00 AM

The woman behind NZ’s first PAK’nSAVE

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Kea Kids News: It’s a town filled with wild horses!

Kea Kids News: It’s a town filled with wild horses!

Reporter Martha and friends are in Minginui introducing us to their favourite four-legged neighbours, wild but friendly horses that have had free reign of the place since 1870.

'I will forever hate you': Victims' torment after 'friend' sexually abused them as boys

'I will forever hate you': Victims' torment after 'friend' sexually abused them as boys

15 Jun 08:00 AM
Coconuts and meth: The story behind NZ's largest pseudoephedrine prosecution

Coconuts and meth: The story behind NZ's largest pseudoephedrine prosecution

15 Jun 06:00 AM
Police seek witnesses to Rotorua hit-and-run

Police seek witnesses to Rotorua hit-and-run

15 Jun 04:24 AM
How one volunteer makes people feel seen
sponsored

How one volunteer makes people feel seen

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP